What did you enjoy the most about your course?

There were various aspects of the course that I enjoyed, but I particularly liked being in an environment which allowed me to learn at my own pace alongside other students that were working towards the same goal. Often in education there is a sense that you are there to get your qualification and move on, but I really felt like there was a togetherness within the group I was with and that we all wanted to achieve something in sport.

How did your course set you up for a career in Sport and Exercise?

The course provided me with a foundation to build on. For me personally, the social aspect played a huge part in my development as a person. I was always quiet in school but had a great support network of friends, so I was never really in a position to push myself out of my comfort zone. When I made the decision to study at Selby College, I only knew three people so it was an unusual and unlikely step for me, but one which I am so glad I made. It allowed me to meet people from different areas who were all aspiring to be something across the Sports industry, who I am still in contact with 10 years on.

What advice would you give to someone who is aspiring for a career in Sport and Exercise?

My biggest tip would be to make sure you really fight for what you think you want to do as a career. If you are in a job or are studying, don’t just do it for the sake of it. There are of course times where you may have to experience a job that you don’t like to pay the bills or build your experience. I am very fortunate to be in the career I am now, but I had to do my fair share of jobs to get here, but that didn’t stop me from focusing on what I knew I wanted.

How did you begin your career in the Sport and Exercise industry?

Before I joined Manchester City full time, I had a period of 14 months where I accepted voluntary work at the club to prove myself and what I could offer the club. I spent two years before that working in a workplace training company and although I enjoyed it, it wasn’t what I wanted for the rest of my life. With very little notice, the training company had changed a lot of jobs and made people reapply for different roles. Although there was a job for me, I felt this was the right time to put everything into football. I handed my notice in and began doing everything to prove why I was worthy of a job at Manchester City. Thankfully, I was still living my parents at the time so I was lucky to be in a position where I didn’t necessarily need to be earning a full-time wage. During those 14 months I visited the Academy as many times as I was allowed, I watched as many Academy games as possible, I emailed as many people as I could and I offered my services to as many people as I could. I completed match reports, created PowerPoints, analysed players – pretty much anything I could think of that might be helpful. If you think at all, think big. If you think big, think bigger!

What did you take away from your time at Selby College?

I made many friends during my time at Selby College, which has allowed me to create a network with many professionals in the sporting industry - providing great opportunities when you least expect it. I would like to thank all of the staff at Selby College for making it such an enjoyable and rewarding experience. In particular my tutor Gabriel for supporting me through my education and still being a friend now.